An impressive new $35 million Undergraduate Library for the 21st century is the latest addition to the Wayne State University landscape. The spacious three-story structure on Gullen Mall opens its doors to students for the fall term beginning Sept. 2. Official opening ceremonies will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 12.

But the University Library System's fifth library is much more than just another attractive building. Designed specifically around the needs of freshmen and sophomores, it could well serve as a model for such academic facilities at other universities. It is a user-friendly facility that will help promote academic success and reduce the "library anxiety" often experienced by first-time college students.

"Many of our students come from high schools that have small libraries with very limited resources," explains Patricia Senn Breivik, dean of university libraries. "So, when they walk into a large university library they may feel overwhelmed. One of our goals is to make the library experience more comfortable and less intimidating."

As the Information Age accelerates into the 21st century, it is more important than ever for students seeking careers in any field to be "information literate," Breivik emphasizes. That means being able to recognize the need for information, then knowing how to locate, evaluate and use it effectively.

Students who become comfortable using the Undergraduate Library during their first year on campus will be more at ease navigating their way through the university's research libraries. Their comfort and information literacy levels may even play a part in the later decision of whether or not to attend graduate school, with its more intensive research requirements.

To help novice college students feel more comfortable from the moment they set foot in the building, a student-staffed information kiosk is strategically situated in the main lobby. And for those prone to "munchy attacks," the building even has a snack area.

For students who find it necessary to study late at night and away from distractions at home, the Helen DeRoy Extended Study Center on the first floor provides a secure, quiet environment open around the clock.

Acutely aware of the necessity of computers for accessing information and producing materials for class, the university is equipping the new facility with 700 of them ­ along with an additional 700 access points.

Conference rooms of various sizes also are available to students and faculty. For larger gatherings, the 150-seat Bernath Auditorium features theater-style seating and is equipped for multimedia presentations and teleconferences.

An innovative "Windows on the Arts" area designed into a main floor atrium will help students gain exposure to the arts. Presentations will include such things as poetry readings, scenes from plays, music ensembles, dance and art exhibitions, even a fencing demonstration.

"Part of getting through the college experience is enjoying it," says Breivik. "Yet, a great many of our students have commitments that prevent them from attending cultural events, even if the event is on campus. We're importing some of those things right into the building so students will literally be able to trip over the arts."

Another area, called "Windows on the World" offers casual seating and multiple television monitors. It adjoins the snack bar so students can enjoy a snack and beverage while watching news and cultural events. Professors can request specific programming for their classes to watch.

A "Book Sale Room" provides students with an opportunity to build their home libraries with donated books and journals, publisher overruns and the like at very low cost or for free. Payment is on the honor system.

The library certainly will have books, approximately 100,000 of them, along with up to 300 journal subscriptions. But careful selection by the library staff and faculty of materials suitable for beginning-level research will make it less necessary to stuff the building with books, as is the case with more traditional libraries.

Along with introductory texts covering the full range of undergraduate curriculum offerings, the collections will include many books offering practical information, such as career placement, study skills and coping skills.

In line with the concept behind the new library, the university's traditional one-credit freshman survival course, UGE 100, has been redesigned, renamed "information power," and will be housed in the new building. The course aids students in learning how to find and use resources and services needed for success in academics as well as life.

Faculty members teaching interests were considered in the design of WSU's newest library. It will be home to a newly developed Office for Teaching and Learning, a place where faculty can familiarize themselves with the latest instructional technology for enhancing their teaching abilities.

"We think it's great that faculty members can learn how to integrate the latest in information resources and technology into the curriculum, then walk right outside the room and have those capabilities all around them," Breivik says.

Other special features of the 2,700-seat library include a drop-off copy center, where students can leave material for copying and pick it up later, and a presentation software laboratory for learning how to prepare computer-generated visuals for papers and presentations.

Availability of the Undergraduate Library will enable WSU's Purdy-Kresge Library to focus on services to upper division and graduate students, an important role in the university's research mission. The university's other research libraries are the Science and Engineering Library, Shiffman Medical Library and Neef Law Library. WSU students and the community have access to all of these libraries.

Students who need supplies or wish to take a break from studying can visit the university's expansive new bookstore located next door. Operated by Barnes & Noble, it shares space in the building but has a separate entrance.

The university's Undergraduate Library has its own home page on WSU's World Wide Web site: http://www.lib.wayne.edu//geninfo/units/ugl.php.